Chapter 247: Parting Here, Mountains High and Rivers Long
(There will be another chapter tonight.)
Zhou Ju, the worthy from the academy, walked out of the manor's main hall. The Sword Saint of Shushui Kingdom walked into the hall. This departure and arrival slightly compensated for the plummeting momentum of the manor. After all, Guanhu Academy was far away in the distance. A worthy leaving was just that—a worthy leaving. Moreover, since he did not come to interrogate Jianshui Manor, it meant that the century-old enterprise of the manor would not suffer a crippling blow. And Song Yushao was still on the martial arts scene of Shushui Kingdom. Even if he did not draw his sword, even if he was not at the manor, as long as he was still wandering somewhere in the martial world of a dozen or so kingdoms, then Song Fengshan's position as martial alliance leader would remain secure.
But in an instant, Song Yushao suddenly turned his head to look, took a few steps, first deliberately and unintentionally shielding Chen Ping'an behind him, then strode straight across the threshold. He straightened his lapels, and the old man bent over, clasping his fists in a bow toward the sky in the direction of Zhou Ju.
It was only at this moment that the crowd in the hall was horrified to discover that above the gate, high in the sky, ripples shimmered and an old man in a scholar's robe, three zhang tall, appeared. His figure was ethereal, filled with immortal aura.
A sage had arrived, personally gracing the manor.
Majestic and awe-inspiring, vast and profound.
Before Song Yushao even sensed the mystery, Zhou Ju hastily withdrew his gaze from the sword-carrying boy, flicked his sleeves, and removed the magical restrictions on the academy's peace jade tablet. Peeling back the layers, he revealed its true form—a jade pendant engraved with the characters "Restrain Anger." He calmly reattached it to his waist. As Song Yushao performed the grand martial arts ritual, Zhou Ju simultaneously bowed his head and said, "Student pays respects to Master."
The old man, like a tall deity enshrined in a temple, looked down at his disciple Zhou Ju, his joy and anger unreadable on his face. He said slowly, "Regarding the matter of Han Yuanshan, a Confucian scholar of Shushui Kingdom, cultivating demonic arts—I will have someone else handle it. You return to the academy immediately."
Zhou Ju sighed, straightened his waist, and said helplessly, "Master, can't we negotiate?"
The academy sage replied bluntly, "No."
Zhou Ju said with a mournful face, "Woe is me."
The sage looked toward the old Sword Saint of Shushui Kingdom standing by the threshold. After returning the clasped-fist salute, he placed his hands behind his back and said with a smile, "Manor Lord Song is on the verge of breaking through to a new realm. Congratulations. I hear that every time Manor Lord Song travels the martial world, he visits local Confucian temples to offer incense. This sincerity is evident. If you have leisure time, Manor Lord Song can come to our academy to cultivate for a period after breaking through, to stabilize your Golden Body Realm."
Song Yushao felt even more sincere admiration. He never withdrew his clasped-fist gesture. "First, I thank the sage for his grace."
Although he did not know what kind of grand Confucian divine power the headmaster of Guanhu Academy had used, the speed with which he had traveled from the academy to Shushui Kingdom—mountains and rivers spanning millions of li—seemed like just a few steps for the academy sage.
The Confucian sage responsible for overseeing Guanhu Academy smiled. Because his figure was now enormous, suspended in the air, he could almost take in the entire martial world of Shushui Kingdom within the threshold. The refined old man took a deep look at the sword-carrying boy behind Song Yushao. A complex and profound gaze flickered past, as if containing both admiration and recognition, as well as regret, and even a hint of nostalgia. In the end, the old man said nothing, withdrew his gaze, and reminded Zhou Ju again, "Do not deliberately delay your journey. Return to the academy quickly. There is another important task for you."
Zhou Ju's eyes lit up. "Is it about the north?"
The Confucian sage turned a deaf ear to this unintentional leak of heavenly secrets by his closed-door disciple. He was unwilling to say more in front of outsiders from the academy. He only said to the crowd of martial heroes in the hall, smiling, "All paths lead to the same destination. In martial arts, cultivating the heart is the most precious. Only then can one thoroughly understand the wonders of the heavenly way and reinforce the foundation of martial arts. I hope that all of you present will not forget the heart of chivalry. Our Guanhu Academy is willing to open its doors to all of you for self-reflection and enlightenment, to fully understand your nature."
The sage's words of instruction were like spring wind and rain, moistening everything subtly, yet hitting the mark precisely, giving people an indescribably wonderful feeling.
The crowd in the hall was immediately conquered. This was the true bearing of a sage, the lofty character of the academy. The heroes and villains of the black and white paths of Shushui Kingdom, who had already risen to their feet, simultaneously bowed in salute. Compared to the earlier intimidation from Zhou Ju's status as an academy worthy, this bow was much more sincere and full of admiration.
The figure of the headmaster of Guanhu Academy dissipated in the air, shaking out a series of golden light ripples.
Before leaving, the sage used his spiritual eye to take another look at the sword-carrying boy, filled with emotion. The cliff of Shanya Academy—Qi Jingchun—had indeed chosen this boy, who was currently only on the threshold of the fourth realm of martial arts from Great Li, to be the protector of those direct disciples.
This matter was known to only a few people outside Guanhu Academy. The sage had only seen it with his own eyes at this moment, following the clues to deduce and evolve some scenery along the path ahead.
At the same time, the sage warned Zhou Ju with his heart voice: "Juran, no matter what you see on the boy, do not act rashly or speak recklessly. Remember to be cautious in your words and deeds!"
Zhou Ju replied with a laughing heart voice: "Master, seeing virtue brings thoughts of emulation. How could your disciple not understand this principle?"
The sage had already left. Zhou Ju found that the jade pendant at his waist had disappeared. It had been taken away by his master.
Zhou Ju no longer looked back at the hall. He just sighed deeply.
It was not until he walked out of the gate of Jianshui Manor that he turned around and looked back, saying with a smile, "An eye-opening experience."
He, Zhou Ju, or rather Zhou Juran, although now only a worthy of Guanhu Academy, even a great gentleman like Cui Minghuang of Bottle Gourd Continent would not dare to underestimate him in the slightest. This was not only because Zhou Ju's Confucian cultivation was not to be underestimated, nor just because of his experience of rising from worthy to gentleman only to be knocked back to worthy. It was because Zhou Ju could see certain phenomena that even his sage master could not see. Regarding this unique talent, a sage from the academy had personally instructed the headmaster of Guanhu Academy to carefully protect Zhou Ju and never let him go astray.
In Zhou Ju's eyes, the people of the world truly exhibited "the myriad forms of sentient beings." All cultivators, especially Confucian disciples, would manifest their spiritual energy, which carried special meaning, into certain strange phenomena. Most often, they appeared as tiny little figures, the size of a grain of rice or a fingernail, residing on the person before Zhou Ju's eyes, or inside their vital cavities.
For example, a seemingly energetic academy worthy—his little figure was stooped and staggering, as if carrying a heavy load up a mountain, drenched in sweat.
A strict and pedantic master known for his rigid scholarship—near his head, a heavily made-up flying fairy lingered and circled, refusing to leave.
A lifeless, morose academy student—deep inside, however, a little figure of a bearded swordsman roamed heroically through his vital cavities.
That worthy whom Zhou Ju had once thoroughly beaten up was all about benevolence and righteousness, known in the academy for his rigorous style and brilliant writing. But Zhou Ju could see that between the pages of that worthy's books, there were countless colorful butterflies and bees fluttering around, filled with powder and fragrance, and a sharp flying sword covered in honey darting about chaotically.
Zhou Ju disliked this kind of person, but he adhered to his teacher's teachings and endured it. Until one day, after Shanya Academy was stripped of its title as one of the seventy-two academies, and rumors spread that Qi Jingchun had died and his Dao had perished, and Shanya Academy was even relocated from Great Li to Great Sui, its courtyard deserted, the incense of that lineage nearly extinguished—that worthy publicly kicked someone when they were down, violently criticizing Qi Jingchun's practical scholarship as a means of fishing for fame and currying favor with certain old masters, hoping to use this opportunity to successfully become a gentleman. Zhou Ju had no particular like or dislike for that opposing lineage, but he truly detested that worthy with honey on his lips and a dagger in his heart. Moreover, this person had falsely used the principles of Zhou Ju's own master's essays to attack Shanya Academy. So Zhou Ju finally raised his hand and beat him up, leaving the guy too embarrassed to go out for half a year.
Cui Minghuang was like a grand map of mountains and rivers, vast in territory, but filled with smoke of war, fragmented and broken. In this appearance of the heart, there was not a single little figure.
And that great gentleman of Bottle Gourd Continent, elegant and refined, famous across the continent, his true form turned out to be a simple old farmer, tending his fields diligently.
Zhou Ju had possessed this strange and undocumented divine power since childhood. He also had a photographic memory and a fountain of literary inspiration. At the age of nine, he secretly entered the academy to study the teachings of the sage under his master. At fourteen, he became a worthy. After that, he still stayed in a study built by his master, living in seclusion, only interacting with his fellow senior and junior disciples all year round. At twenty, he became a gentleman. After being appraised by a ritual artifact in the Confucian temple, Zhou Ju was soon discovered to have signs of "becoming a righteous man," with the potential to catch up with the two great gentlemen of Bottle Gourd Continent.
Walking on the main road from Jianshui Manor to the small town, Zhou Ju sighed, "I feel a bit ashamed of myself."
Walking on the empty, broad road, a figure appeared out of nowhere beside the worthy Zhou Ju and asked softly, "Juran, did you see some strange phenomenon?"
Zhou Ju laughed and said, "My good master, can you please not scare your disciple like this? If you scare this good seedling into becoming an idiot, master will have to cry later."
The ethereal figure of the academy headmaster walked side by side with Zhou Ju.
Zhou Ju said with a smile, "Master, this time, I don't want to tell you. I'll just make you envious."
The old man in the scholar's robe laughed heartily. "Fine, just wait to come back to the academy and get a beating."
The sage then truly left.
Zhou Ju walked alone on the foreign road, clucking his tongue in wonder, shaking his head.
There was a golden body literary gall that had obviously been gifted by someone, yet it was able to merge with the soul without any rejection. Therefore, this young boy, with a demeanor of Confucian learning, had a hint of the bearing of a righteous gentleman.
As the boy walked, there was a gentle breeze in his sleeves. His shoulders seemed to carry sun-facing flowers and trees, with grass growing and orioles flying—a beautiful and moving sight.
There was a little figure sitting, hiccupping from wine, shaking a vermilion gourd of liquor. Another little figure in straw sandals stood on a pile by the water, crossing mountains on piles...
There was a little figure flipping through a book, a hairpin in his bun, reading an article. Everywhere he looked, it seemed like obstacles blocked the way, so he frowned and scratched his head in frustration.
Another little figure counting money sat cross-legged, beaming with joy, occasionally picking up a coin and biting it, or wiping it with his sleeve.
A little figure was full of glitter and wealth, running around everywhere. Here he handed out something, there he presented another thing with both hands—it seemed like he was constantly giving away his beloved possessions...
So many whimsical thoughts, so many deep-seated obsessions, yet his heart remained clear and pure. How could there be such a strange young man in the world?
Zhou Ju restrained his smile and sighed deeply. He said he admired virtue and thought of emulating it, but he did not want to become that kind of youth at all. Because being that kind of person should be quite tiring.
But if he could become a close friend with that kind of person, it should be quite nice.
Thinking of one thing, Zhou Ju suddenly shot up into the sky, soaring into the clouds, riding the wind on a distant journey. Beneath his feet were the mountains and rivers of Shushui Kingdom. Through the gaps in the sea of clouds, the undulating mountain ranges were faintly visible. Zhou Ju muttered to himself, "This trip, I've seen a Daoist Heavenly Lord from Julú Continent. How about I follow that person's suggestion and choose a slightly larger blessed land, go down as a banished immortal, and enjoy the scenery elsewhere? Otherwise, stuck in my current realm for so many years—like squatting on a latrine and not being able to pass stool—no movement at all."
---
Chen Ping'an, of course, had no idea about the divine power of the worthy Zhou Ju, nor did he know that he had seen so many of his secrets.
The visit of the Guanhu Academy sage might have been a once-in-a-century marvel for the martial world of Shushui Kingdom, but for Chen Ping'an, it was not particularly shocking. Whether in his hometown of Lizhu Cave Heaven or later in Great Sui, Chen Ping'an had already seen far too many unbelievable things. Even in the scroll of mountains and rivers of the old scholar, the Literary Sage, Chen Ping'an had seen the great god of Sui Mountain from the Central Continent, and he himself had even delivered the mountain-splitting sword strike.
In the manor hall, Chen Ping'an did not stay long, because Song Yushao left quickly after saying one sentence.
That one sentence stirred up a thousand waves in everyone's hearts.
"The ten thousand imperial troops that came to besiege the manor have already withdrawn on their own."
The young maidservant, one of the four fiends of Shushui Kingdom, had actually returned to the manor with the two of them, but she did not dare to face a worthy of the academy and hid in the shadows. Fortunately, both the sage and the worthy did not bother with her. This made her feel as if she had escaped a great disaster. After confirming that both academy people had left the manor, she entered the hall, sat down, and communicated with Song Fengshan through heart voice. However, the young woman used the techniques of a qi practitioner, pulling at the heart lake, while Song Fengshan, as a martial artist, used the method of condensing sound into a thread. One required the fifth realm of a qi practitioner, the other the fourth realm of martial arts.
Song Fengshan's wife began to maneuver skillfully, pacifying the gathered heroes.
Song Fengshan, who had remained silent, was greatly calmed.
Besides the relief, Song Fengshan felt somewhat complicated.
His grandfather, Song Yushao, truly stood alone with his sword before the army, and even captured the great general Chu Hao by piercing through the formation, saving Song Fengshan many schemes. Not only that, but his grandfather and that unfathomable young sword immortal had joined forces deep in the mountains, together with the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal Su Lang, whom Song Fengshan's secret letter had persuaded, to ambush and kill the Sword Venerable Lin Gushan of Guyu Kingdom and the master of the Maidu Pavilion. Lin Gushan was decapitated by a single sword stroke from Su Lang, and that green pearl became the best evidence of Su Lang's "sword immortal killing sword venerable." Unfortunately, the Maidu Pavilion assassin, wounded, escaped using secret techniques, which could become a variable.
Song Fengshan said secretly to the young woman with a smile, "As agreed, after the matter is accomplished, I will help you become a mountain god officially enshrined by the imperial court of Shushui Kingdom, allowing you to have a golden body and enjoy incense offerings. But let me make the ugly things clear first: After becoming a golden-bodied deity, if you want your realm to skyrocket and enjoy a comfortable life, you still need to act according to my plan. In the next few decades, against your nature, you must grit your teeth and do good deeds to win the people's hearts. If you break the agreement, cannot change your violent ways, and ruin my great plans for small gains, then you and I will have to meet on the battlefield."
The young woman laughed flirtatiously with her heart voice, "The young manor lord's calculations are flawless. Little slave dares not seek trouble."
Song Fengshan said firmly, "I'll trouble you to go to the prefectural city to inform Han Yuanshan that the situation has changed. After Zhou Ju, the Guanhu Academy will still send someone to trouble him. As for whether he still wants to use Chu Hao's identity to enter the central power of the Shushui Kingdom court, that's up to him to decide."
The young woman sighed mournfully, stood up, and prepared to go to the prefectural city to warn her lover Han Yuanshan, "Whether in bed or out of bed, I'm a hard-laborer. Ah, by the way, remember to ask that boy named Chen Ping'an for the armor pellet he took from Chu Hao. Whether the young manor lord buys it with money or exchanges it with favors, you must keep that item. In the future, if my Yuanshan insists on seeking wealth and honor at the risk of danger and pretending to be Chu Hao, that Sweet Dew Armor pellet will be key."
Song Fengshan replied, "I have my own considerations."
The young woman knew this man's cold-blooded and ruthless nature and did not add any superfluous words. She then left the hall.
An old man and a young man walked toward the courtyard arranged for Chen Ping'an by the manor.
On the way back from the mountains earlier, first the Maidu Pavilion master had been lurking for a long time, ambushing Chen Ping'an. Then the Sword Venerable Lin Gushan arrived and entangled Song Yushao.
If Chen Ping'an and Song Yushao had been in peak condition, the outcome would have been undoubted—they would have overwhelmingly crushed those two assassins acting on orders from Guyu Kingdom. But Chen Ping'an's spiritual energy was severely depleted, and his control over Chuyi and Shiwu was far less skillful than when he had pierced the army formation. As a result, he fought to a standstill with the Maidu Pavilion master, their second encounter. Song Yushao had a slight upper hand, but Lin Gushan's momentum was strong, making it impossible for him to break away and help Chen Ping'an slay that elusive top-tier assassin.
After that, the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal and the young maidservant appeared one after another. It seemed that both sides had an ally to reinforce them, and logically, Lin Gushan's side had a greater chance of winning.
Su Lang and Lin Gushan joined forces to attack Song Yushao. The young woman fought Chen Ping'an against the Maidu Pavilion master.
Then the situation changed dramatically. Su Lang cut off Lin Gushan's head with one sword stroke. Seeing the bad turn of events, the Maidu Pavilion master tried to flee again, but Chen Ping'an did his best to drive his flying sword Shiwu through his abdomen. Even so, the assassin managed to escape the battlefield. The young maidservant appeared to be doing her utmost, displaying all her demonic cultivation, causing heaven and earth to overturn, but the truth was probably not so. After all, the life or death of a foreign boy was irrelevant to the greater situation of Shushui Kingdom. And if he accidentally died in the deep mountains, it would remove an informant who was not easy to control, which might be even better for her.
Arriving at the courtyard, the bearded man and the young Daoist were not at the manor today. Chen Ping'an had already persuaded them to go to the small town earlier, saying they would leave today for the immortal ferry at the border. Chen Ping'an did not hide anything and frankly told his two friends the whole story. Zhang Shanfeng insisted on accompanying him, but Xu Yuanxia stopped him and dragged him off to the small town.
After sitting down at the stone table, Song Yushao said softly, "Great General Chu Hao is most likely dead."
Chen Ping'an made no comment on that.
Just as earlier at the waterside pavilion, when the saber-carrying woman had pointed the tip of her scabbard at him, that was how people walked the martial world.
And Chu Hao leading ten thousand troops south to attack Jianshui Manor—that was a general on the battlefield.
Chen Ping'an took out the Divine Dew-Collecting Armor Pellet from his sleeve and handed it to the old man. The young maidservant had asked for it earlier, but Chen Ping'an had been unwilling to give it up.
Song Yushao waved his hand and said, "You captured Chu Hao, so this armor pellet is naturally yours."
Chen Ping'an shook his head and said, "Old Senior, you should keep it. Since that female fiend wanted it, this armor pellet must be about more than just money. I just don't like her conduct and didn't want to give it to her."
Song Yushao laughed and said, "Otherwise, I'll give you all the remaining small snow coins in the manor? Otherwise, it wouldn't be right. I'll have a knot in my heart—owing both money and favors. As for Fengshan having academy expenses, let him fend for himself. That kid has great skills; I don't believe he can't scrape together a few thousand small snow coins."
Chen Ping'an grinned and said, "If we're truly friends, it doesn't matter to owe a favor. Next time I come to the manor, Old Senior just has to treat me to more drinks."
Song Yushao clicked his tongue and said, "Owing favors is more painful than owing money—that's what you said. Now you say it's okay to owe favors among friends—still your words. What, are all the principles in the world yours, Chen Ping'an?"
Chen Ping'an took off his sword-nourishing gourd, took a relaxed and carefree sip of wine, with no more worries or burdens. After walking the martial world, taking a hearty gulp of fine wine, not to hide his identity or to catch his breath on the battlefield, was truly delightful. "If Old Senior Song doesn't treat me as a friend, then just pay back the money and favors, settle everything cleanly. At worst, next time I pass through Shushui Kingdom, I won't come to the manor for huadiao wine and hotpot."
Song Yushao hesitated for a moment, helpless, and had to accept the military armor pellet. He teased, "What exactly is going on with you, kid? I'm starting to get confused."
Chen Ping'an blinked and said, "When I was an apprentice at the dragon kiln in my hometown, the master who taught me how to fire porcelain once said a principle: When it comes to favors, give a cow; when it comes to business, don't let a needle slip."
Song Yushao was stunned. "What the hell is that?"
Chen Ping'an said sheepishly, "It means that when your relationship is good, giving a friend a cow is fine. But when doing business, even the money for a needle should be recorded in the accounts."
This earthy principle from Old Man Yao was not taught in books. But in Colorful Dress Kingdom's Yan Zhi Commandery, before Chong Miao Daoist died, he had said something similar.
So Chen Ping'an figured this crude principle was probably right.
Song Yushao laughed heartily, pointed at the boy, and said, "You little rascal, you're definitely going to be very rich in the future!"
Chen Ping'an clasped his fists, his smile bright. "I hope so, I hope so."
Song Yushao stood up with a smile. "The manor won't keep you. I'll go take care of a few things, then we'll go to the small town together and treat you to hotpot. After that, you and your friends can head to the ferry."
Chen Ping'an nodded. After the old man went to find Steward Chu, Chen Ping'an returned to his small courtyard room, changed into clean clothes, and left a talisman paper made of gold material on the table. He had already drawn the talisman—a Pagoda Demon-Suppressing Talisman. The boy used a wine cup to hold it down.
Earlier, when they left the battlefield and took the three hundred small snow coins from the old man, Chen Ping'an had only done so to put the old man's mind at ease.
No matter how much the boy's temperament had changed—from a muddy-legged boy who had never touched alcohol to a little drunkard who knew the quality of wine—some things remained the same. Perhaps even after a hundred or a thousand years, they would still be so.
Suffering a loss is a blessing; coveting a bargain is losing a bargain—these principles were taught in books, and more than one book taught them.
Finally, the old Sword Saint of Shushui Kingdom brought a small bundle and two jars of fine wine. They met in the courtyard. Chen Ping'an's wine gourd was filled with fine wine again, and there was one jar left. They would use it when going to the small town for hotpot. The old man said he would help carry the bundle containing the small snow coins and some small items.
Leaving the small courtyard, the white-haired old steward of the manor stood at the gate, clasping his fists to Chen Ping'an with a smile. "Young Hero Chen, you're always welcome to visit the manor from now on. Starting this year, Jianshui Manor will prepare plenty of huadiao wine, brewed and stored especially for Young Hero Chen, guaranteeing that every time you can drink the most authentic aged wine."
Chen Ping'an clasped his fists. "I won't be polite!"
Song Yushao and Chen Ping'an flew out of the manor again.
The old steward stood in place, unwilling to leave for a long time, a gratified smile on his face. Looking at the old manor lord now, he was completely different from the gloomy and lifeless man of the past decades. Now, the old manor lord was just like when he walked the martial world in his youth—full of spirit, radiant.
So, the martial world of our Shushui Kingdom would surely have another few decades of glory.
The old man walked back slowly, meeting the two maidservants in charge of that courtyard along the way. The usually stern old steward now wore many smiles, causing the two young sword maidens to feel flattered, as if the sun had risen in the west.
When the two arrived at the small town, the spies placed there by the imperial court had all withdrawn on their own after getting wind of the situation.
Meeting Xu Yuanxia and Zhang Shanfeng at the wine house, the four of them sat on the second floor again, eating hotpot. Because Song Yushao had introduced himself last time, the wine house owner was somewhat nervous. The old man scolded him with his catchphrase "melon head," and only then did the owner relax a bit. Zhang Shanfeng couldn't eat too much spicy food, but he didn't want to seem weak, so he ate while crying. Chen Ping'an said seriously that drinking wine could relieve the spiciness, but the young Daoist spat a mouthful of wine all over Chen Ping'an.
At the table, the old man also drank a bit too much. He didn't use his martial realm to dispel the alcohol in his stomach. He kept raising his glass to Chen Ping'an and the two others.
He also rambled many heartfelt words to Chen Ping'an, talking about whatever came to mind.
"Chen Ping'an, reasoning with people is not a pleasant thing. Girls don't like to hear it, and men are no better. The world is hard to get by in. Full of grievances and anger, and then having to listen to someone nag—tell me, isn't that annoying? If the reasoning is wrong, it's one thing, but if it's clearly right and they still can't do it, doesn't that stab even deeper into the heart?"
The boy, already a bit tongue-tied from drinking and spicy food, retorted, "I occasionally say some reasoning, but I never argue with people. At most, I fight!"
The old man also said, "If someday a girl says to you, 'Chen Ping'an, you're a good man...'"
The boy looked full of expectation. "Does that mean it's settled?"
The old man slammed the table, gloating. "You fool! Settled, my ass! That relationship is definitely over!"
The boy stood dumbfounded, then quickly took a big gulp of wine to calm himself.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three said goodbye to Song Yushao at the end of the small street.
After the three figures had gone far away, Song Fengshan, now with an iron sword hanging at his waist, appeared silently beside the old man.
The old man looked into the distance and sighed.
Song Fengshan snorted coldly. "In the end, who is your grandson—him or me?"
The old man laughed it off.
Though Song Fengshan's words were angry, there was a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.
It turned out that the old man had put nearly two thousand small snow coins from Jianshui Manor into that bundle, not leaving a single one for the manor.
At the hotpot table, the old man kept urging Chen Ping'an to drink, so Chen Ping'an was drunk, staggering, reeking of alcohol. How could he care about the small bundle slung on his back?
An old Jianghu player is always an old player. The boy was still too green.